Erin Patterson Denies Intent in Fatal Mushroom Lunch, Calls Incident a Tragic Mistake

Erin Patterson, the woman at the centre of Australia’s high-profile mushroom poisoning case, has insisted in court that the deadly lunch which killed three family members was a “terrible accident” rather than a calculated act of murder.

Taking the stand in her defence, the 50-year-old broke down emotionally as she addressed the allegations surrounding the July 2023 meal. Patterson is accused of serving death cap mushroom-laced Beef Wellington to her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and family friend Heather Wilkinson, all of whom later died. A fourth guest, Ian Wilkinson, narrowly survived after falling critically ill.

Patterson firmly denied knowing the mushrooms were poisonous, stating she believed they were store-bought or foraged safely. She admitted to previously lying about having cancer, claiming she had done so out of shame related to her weight and to gain emotional support from her children—not as a manipulative ploy. “I was embarrassed, not malicious,” she told the jury.

The prosecution argued that Patterson’s actions—including allegedly discarding a food dehydrator after the incident and wiping data from her phone—suggest premeditation. Patterson said she acted out of fear, not guilt, worrying that her children could be taken from her if authorities misunderstood the incident.

Under cross-examination, Patterson denied using scales to measure out a fatal mushroom dose, or that she had cooked a separate, mushroom-free portion for herself. The court was told that she also fell ill after consuming the meal.

As jury deliberations continue at the Latrobe Valley court, public interest in the trial remains intense. The outcome hinges on whether the jury believes Patterson’s version of events—a story of misjudgment and panic—or the prosecution’s theory of deliberate homicide. A unanimous verdict is expected in the coming days.